Privacy Notice

Information for the public

This privacy notice explains why we ask for your personal information, how that information will be used and how you can access your records.

Everyone working for Electoral Services has a legal duty to keep and process information about you in accordance with the law. Our Data Protection Officer, is Mark Stinson, and can be contacted by phone on 01362 656870, via email: Legal.Team@Breckland-Sholland.gov.uk or by writing to us at Legal Services, Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE.

Why is information recorded about me?

We use information about citizens, electors and voters to enable us to carry out specific functions for which we are responsible and to provide you with a statutory service relating to Electoral Registration and Elections, as defined by the Representation of the People Act 1983 and its associated regulations and the General Data Protection Regulation Article 6.1(e) that processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

We keep records about potential and actual electors, voters, citizens, candidates and their agents, staff employed at an election and the people we need to pay. These may be written down (manual records), or kept on a computer (electronic records). Where appropriate, we may rely upon Article 6.1(b) that processing is necessary for the performance of a contract.

These records may include:

basic details about you, for example, name, address, date of birth and nationality

unique identifiers (such as your NI number)

scanned application forms & dates of any letters or correspondence

notes about any relevant circumstances that you have told us about

details and records about the service you have received

your previous or any redirected address

the other occupants in your home

if you are over 76 or under 16/17

whether you have chosen to opt out of the Open version of the Register

Occasions when your information needs to be disclosed (shared) include:

to registered political parties, elected representatives, candidates, agents and other permitted participants who are able to use it for Electoral purposes only

Credit reference agencies, the British Library, UK Statistics Authority, the Electoral Commission and other statutory recipients of the Electoral Register

details of whether you have voted (but not how you have voted) to those who are entitled in law to receive it after an election

where the health and safety of others is at risk

when the law requires us to pass on information under special circumstances

crime prevention or the detection of fraud as part of the National Fraud Initiative

Anyone who receives information from us has a legal duty to keep it confidential

We are required by law to report certain information to appropriate authorities - for example:

where a formal court order has been issued

to law enforcement agencies for the prevention or detection of a crime

to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau indicating those persons who are aged 76 or over and are no longer eligible for jury service

Partner organisations

The Department for Work and Pensions - to verify your identity, the data you provide will be processed by the Individual Electoral Registration Digital Service managed by the Cabinet Office. As part of this process your data will be shared with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office suppliers that are data processors for the Individual Electoral Registration Digital Service. The Cabinet Office will inform the old local authority of people who have moved area. You can find out more information about this here: https://www.registertovote.service.gov.uk/register-to-vote/privacy

What is the information used for?

Your records are used to help ensure that we provide you with the service that you need. We will, based on your nationality, include your name on the Electoral Register so that you are able to vote by your chosen method.

The Electoral Register is a public document which can be viewed by appointment only under strict control.

It is important that your records are accurate and up-to-date as they will help make sure that our staff are able to provide you with the help, advice or support you need.

If you do not provide us with this information then eligible citizens will not be able to vote and you may be breaking the law.

How long for?

In order to provide you with this service, we rely on our legal obligation. The Electoral Registration Officer & Returning Officer (Maxine O'Mahony) are obliged to process your personal data in relation to preparing for and conducting Elections. Your details will be kept and updated in accordance with our legal obligations and in line with statutory retention periods.

If your details are in the 'Open' version of the Electoral Register, your name and address can be sold to third parties who may use it for any purpose. You can Opt Out of this version at any time and are given the opportunity annually as part of the Canvass of all households.

Can I see my records?

The Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR) allows you to find out what information is held about you, on paper and computer records. This is known as 'right of subject access' and applies to your Electoral Services records along with all other personal records.

If you wish to see a copy of your records you should contact the Data Protection Officer. You are entitled to receive a copy of your records free of charge, within a month.

In certain circumstances access to your records may be limited, for example, if the records you have asked for contain information relating to another person.

Do I have Other Rights?

The Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR) allows you other rights; for example if there is an error in your records you have the right to make sure it is rectified or erased.

We rely on Article 17.3(d) for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) in so far as the right referred to in paragraph 1 is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of that processing.

You have the right to opt out of the Open Version of the Register, at any time, and we must remove you from this version and tell the statutory recipients in the next update.

You have the right to be told if we have made a mistake whilst processing your data and we will self-report breaches to the Information Commissioner's Office.

Further information

If you would like to know more about how we use your information, or if for any reason you do not wish to have your information used in any of the ways described in this privacy notice, please tell us.